Dog Bite Lawyer Lakewood

A dog bite can change everything in seconds. One moment your child is playing in the yard. The next moment they’re bleeding, terrified, and you’re wondering what you’re supposed to do. Or maybe you were walking through your own neighborhood when a dog lunged off-leash, and now you’re dealing with puncture wounds, infection, and bills you didn’t ask for.

You might feel hesitant to take action—especially if the dog belongs to someone you know. You don’t want to ruin a relationship or seem like you’re overreacting. But dog bites are not minor accidents. They cause real injuries, real trauma, and real costs. And in Colorado, dog owners are responsible for what their animals do.

McCormick & Murphy, P.C. works with dog bite victims in Lakewood and throughout the Denver metro area. We help people understand their rights, navigate insurance claims, and hold negligent owners accountable when a preventable attack causes harm.

Why Dog Bites Are More Serious Than People Think

Many people assume a dog bite is only a problem if it requires stitches. That’s not true. Even bites that seem minor at first can lead to serious complications:

• Infection. Dog mouths carry bacteria that can cause cellulitis, sepsis, or rabies exposure. Infection can set in quickly, especially in puncture wounds that don’t bleed freely.
• Nerve and tendon damage. Deep bites to the hands, face, or limbs can damage nerves or tendons, leading to loss of function, chronic pain, or the need for reconstructive surgery.
• Scarring and disfigurement. Facial bites in children often leave permanent scars. Even with plastic surgery, the emotional impact can last a lifetime.
• Psychological trauma. Children who are bitten by dogs often develop anxiety, nightmares, or phobias. Adults can experience similar trauma, especially after unprovoked attacks.

These injuries are not small. They’re not something you just move on from. And they shouldn’t be treated that way.

Colorado’s Dog Bite Law: What You Need to Know

Colorado has a strict liability statute for dog bites. That means if a dog bites you in a place where you have a lawful right to be, the owner is responsible—period. It doesn’t matter if the dog has never bitten anyone before. It doesn’t matter if the owner claims the dog is friendly. The law protects victims, not excuses.

Under Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-124, a dog owner is liable for any serious bodily injury or death caused by their dog. “Serious bodily injury” is defined as an injury that involves a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of any body part or organ.

For injuries that don’t meet that threshold, you can still pursue a claim under negligence or premises liability law. That might apply if the owner knew the dog was dangerous, failed to restrain it properly, or allowed it to roam unleashed in violation of local ordinances.

Lakewood has leash laws and dangerous dog ordinances. If a dog owner violated those rules and you were injured as a result, that strengthens your case significantly.

What to Do After a Dog Bite in Lakewood

The moments after a dog bite are chaotic. You’re scared, you’re hurt, and you’re not sure what comes next. Here’s what you should do:

Get Medical Attention Immediately

Even if the bite seems minor, see a doctor. Wash the wound with soap and water, apply pressure to stop any bleeding, and get to an urgent care clinic or emergency room. Dog bites need to be cleaned professionally to reduce the risk of infection. Your doctor will also document the injury, which becomes critical evidence later.

Report the Bite

Contact Lakewood Animal Control or the Jefferson County Public Health Department. Reporting the bite creates an official record and helps authorities determine whether the dog has a history of aggression or is current on rabies vaccinations. You can reach Lakewood’s Animal Control at 303-987-7070.

Gather Information

If possible, get the dog owner’s name, address, phone number, and homeowner’s insurance information. Take photos of your injuries, the location where the bite occurred, and the dog if you can do so safely. If there were witnesses, get their contact information too.

Don’t Sign Anything or Accept Money

The dog owner or their insurance company may offer to pay your initial medical bills in exchange for a release. Don’t sign it. You don’t yet know the full extent of your injuries, and signing a release can prevent you from recovering additional compensation later.

Call a Dog Bite Lawyer

Insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. They will try to minimize your claim, delay payment, or deny coverage altogether. A dog bite lawyer protects your rights and makes sure you’re not left holding the bill for someone else’s negligence.

Homeowner’s Insurance and Dog Bite Claims

Most dog bite claims are covered by the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance policy. These policies typically include liability coverage for injuries that occur on the owner’s property or are caused by the owner’s pet—even if the bite happens off-property.

Insurance companies know this. That’s why they fight so hard to avoid paying. They’ll argue that you provoked the dog, that you were trespassing, or that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim. They’ll use recorded statements against you. They’ll offer lowball settlements hoping you’ll take the money and go away.

We don’t let that happen. We gather the evidence, build the case, and hold the insurance company accountable. We’ve seen every tactic they use, and we know how to respond.

What If the Dog Owner Is Someone You Know?

This is the question that stops a lot of people from taking action. The dog belongs to a neighbor, a friend, or a family member. You don’t want to cause conflict. You don’t want to be “that person.”

Here’s the reality: you’re not suing your neighbor. You’re filing a claim with their insurance company. That’s what homeowner’s insurance is for. It protects the homeowner from financial liability when something goes wrong on their property or as a result of their actions.

Your neighbor won’t have to pay out of pocket. Their premiums might go up, but that’s a consequence of owning a dog that injured someone. It’s not your fault that happened. You didn’t ask to be bitten. You didn’t ask for medical bills, lost wages, or scars that won’t go away.

You have every right to be made whole. Choosing not to pursue a claim doesn’t undo the injury. It just leaves you to carry the cost alone.

When a Child Is Bitten

Dog bites to children are particularly devastating. Children are more likely to be bitten in the face or head because of their height. They’re less able to defend themselves, and they don’t always understand the warning signs that a dog is about to attack.

The trauma doesn’t end when the wound heals. Kids who are bitten by dogs often struggle with anxiety, fear of animals, difficulty sleeping, and changes in behavior. Some need therapy. Some need years of reconstructive surgery. And in Colorado, parents have the right to pursue compensation for all of it.

If your child was bitten by a dog in Lakewood, you can recover damages for:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and psychological counseling
• Loss of enjoyment of life

You can also recover your own damages as a parent, including lost wages if you had to take time off work to care for your child.

Compensation You Can Recover in a Lakewood Dog Bite Case

Every case is different, but the types of damages available in a dog bite claim generally include:

Economic Damages

These are the costs you can document with bills and receipts:

• Emergency room visits and hospital stays
• Surgery and reconstructive procedures
• Medications and follow-up care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Travel expenses for medical treatment

Non-Economic Damages

These are the intangible harms that don’t come with a receipt but are just as real:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and anxiety
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Colorado does not cap non-economic damages in personal injury cases like dog bites, so the amount you can recover depends on the severity of your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life.

How Long Do You Have to File a Dog Bite Claim?

In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims—including dog bites—is generally two years from the date of the injury. That means you have two years to file a lawsuit, or you lose your right to recover compensation.

Two years might sound like a long time, but it’s not. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. Medical records get harder to obtain. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

And if the dog bite involved a government entity—for example, if you were bitten by a police dog or a dog owned by a city employee acting in the scope of their employment—you may have as little as 180 days to file a notice of claim. These cases require immediate action.

Why Choose McCormick & Murphy, P.C.

McCormick & Murphy, P.C. is a personal injury law firm that focuses on the rights of people who have been harmed by someone else’s negligence. Kirk McCormick and Jay Murphy have built their practice on a simple principle: injured people deserve lawyers who will fight for them, not process them.

We know what dog bite victims are going through. We know the insurance companies will try to lowball you. We know the system is confusing, and we know you didn’t ask to be in this position. Our job is to take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.

We serve clients in Lakewood, Denver, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Commerce City, Aurora, Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Broomfield, Brighton, Longmont, Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Erie, Golden, Morrison, Evergreen, Conifer, Bailey, Pine, Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, and throughout Colorado.

If you or your child was bitten by a dog in Lakewood, call us at 888-668-1182. Consultations are free, and we don’t get paid unless you do. You have rights. Let us help you understand them.